Rhyl woman had £1,000 in dressing gown when arrested

A RHYL woman who was a member of an international money laundering gang has forfeited £1,000 which was found on her when she was arrested.

Last month Caroline Hartery, aged 41, was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting laundering money in criminal proceedings.

Her husband Roger Budgen, 46, who was jailed for eight and a half years, was said to have been the ringleader of an international drugs and money laundering gang, co-ordinating a scheme which linked criminals across Europe.

Three other men, two from London and one from Liverpool, were also jailed for their part in the ring.

The convictions followed a lengthy investigation by the National Crime Agency, and one of the agency’s Cardiff-based officers Peter Matthews appeared at Prestatyn Magistrates’ Court to apply for a forfeiture order against Hartery.

He said that when she was arrested at her home in South Drive, Rhyl, £1,000 in cash was found in her dressing-gown pocket.

“We believe that money was the proceeds of crime,” he said.

Hartery was not present but her solicitor Alex Fitzgerald told the court she did not wish to oppose the application.

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